Driving safety
4-5
4 Vehicle preparation before driving
N00629000643
For a safer and more enjoyable trip, always check for the fol-
lowing:Seat belts and seatsBefore starting the vehicle, make certain that you and all
passengers are seated and wearing their seat belts properly
(with children in the rear seat, in appropriate restraints),
and that all the doors and flap-fold tailgate are locked.
Move the driver’s seat as far backward as possible, while
still keeping good visibility, and good control of the steer-
ing wheel, brakes, accelerator, and controls. Check the
instrument panel indicators and multi-information display
for any possible problem.
In the same way, the front passenger seat should also be
moved as far back as possible.
Make sure that infants and small children are properly
restrained in accordance with all laws and regulations.
DefrostersCheck these by selecting the defroster mode, and set the blower
switch on high. You should be able to feel the air blowing
against the windshield.
Refer to “Defrosting or defogging (windshield, door win-
dows)” on page 5-14, 5-23, 5-33, 5-43.TiresCheck all the tires for heavy tread wear or uneven wear pat-
terns. Look for stones, nails, glass, or other objects stuck in the
tread. Look for any tread cuts or sidewall cracks. Check the
wheel nuts for tightness, and the tires (including spare tire) for
proper pressure. Replace your tires before they are heavily
worn out.
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system, there is a risk of damage to the tire inflation pressure
sensors when the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement
should, therefore, be performed only by an authorized Mitsub-
ishi Motors dealer.LightsHave someone watch while you turn all the exterior lights on
and off. Also check the turn signal indicators and high-beam
indicators on the instrument panel.Fluid leaksCheck the ground under the vehicle after parking overnight, for
fuel, water, oil, or other leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are
correct. Also, if you can smell fuel, you need to find out why
immediately and have it fixed.
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4-10 Driving safety
4
Tire and loading information placard
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The tire and loading information placard is located on the
inside sill of the driver’s door.This placard shows the maximum number of occupants permit-
ted to ride in your vehicle as well as “the combined weight of
occupants and cargo” (A), which is called the vehicle capacity
weight. The weight of any non-factory installed options, as
well as the tongue weight of a trailer being towed and roof load
is included in the definition of “cargo” when determining the
vehicle capacity weight. This placard also tells you the size and
recommended inflation pressure for the original equipment
tires on your vehicle. For more information, refer to “Tires” on
page 7-24.
Ty p e 1
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Driving safety
4-21
4
Vehicle preparationBefore you start, check the trailer hitch, safety chains, tires and
mirror adjustment.TireBe sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the cold inflation
pressure listed in the manual. You’ll find these numbers on the
tire and loading information placard at the sill of the driver’s
door.
Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-27.Following distanceStay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would
when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you
avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns.PassingYou’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re tow-
ing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll
need to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before you
can return to your lane.Backing upHold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to
move the trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and, if possible, have someone guide
you.
Making turnsWhen you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than nor-
mal to help prevent the trailer from striking shoulders, curbs,
road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.OverheatingTowing a trailer puts additional burden on the engine and tran-
saxle, which may cause overheating. Following are some sug-
gestions to reduce overheating:
CAUTION
!Making sharp turns while towing a trailer could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle.
Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making sharp
turns while towing a trailer.Cause of overheating
Solution
Air conditioning on Turn off
Highway speeds Reduce speed
Going up hills Select lower position
Stop-and-go city traffic With the vehicle stopped, shift
to the “N” (NEUTRAL) posi-
tion and idle the engine at high
idle.
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For emergencies
6-11
6
NOTEThe chocks shown in the illustration do not come with
your vehicle. It is recommended that you purchase chocks
or blocks and keep them in the vehicle for use if needed.
If chocks or blocks are not available, use stones or any
other objects that are large enough to hold the wheel in
position.
6. Get the jack, bar and wheel nut wrench ready.
(Refer to “Jack and tools” on page 6-7.)
Spare tire information
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Compact spare tireThe compact spare tire is stowed below the luggage compart-
ment floor. It is designed to save space in the luggage compart-
ment. Its lighter weight makes it easier to use if a flat tire
occurs.
WA R N I N G
!Be sure to apply chocks or blocks to the correct tire
when jacking up the vehicle. If the vehicle moves
while jacked up, the jack could slip out of position,
leading to an accident.
WA R N I N G
!Tires, including spare tire, degrade over time with
age even when they are not being used. It is recom-
mended that tires over 6 years generally be replaced
even if damage is not obvious.
CAUTION
!While the compact spare tire is stowed, the inflation
pressure should be checked at least once a month to
assure that it remains at the recommended inflation
pressure. See the tire and loading information plac-
ard attached to the driver’s door sill. Refer to “Tire
and loading information placard” on page 9-4.Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause
an accident. If you have no choice but to drive with
an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and
avoid sudden steering or braking, if possible. Inflate
the tire to the correct pressure as soon as possible.
Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-27.
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6-12 For emergencies
6
To remove the spare tire
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1. Open the tailgate and use the bar to remove the cover (A)
over the tire hanger mounting bolt.
Refer to “Flap-fold tailgate: To open” on page 3-60.
The compact spare tire should be used only tempo-
rarily. While the compact spare tire is being used,
the tire pressure monitoring system will not function
properly. Have the tire replaced or repaired at an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice as soon as possible.Do not go over 50 mph (80 km/h) when driving with
the compact spare tire.Avoid sudden starting and braking when driving
with the compact spare tire.Do not drive through automatic car washes and over
obstacles that could possibly damage the underside
of your vehicle. Because the compact spare tire is
smaller than the original tire, there is less clearance
between the ground and your vehicle.Because the compact spare tire is designed only for
your vehicle, do not use it on any other vehicle.Do not put the compact spare tire on a different
wheel, and do not put standard tires, snow tires,
wheel covers or trim rings on the compact spare
wheel. Otherwise, you could damage these parts or
other parts on your vehicle.Do not use tire chains with your compact spare tire.
Using a chain could cause damage to your vehicle
and loss of the chains.
CAUTION
!
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6-22 For emergencies
6
11. Check the tire inflation pressure. The recommended tire
pressure for your vehicle is listed on the tire and loading
information placard attached to the driver’s door sill as
shown in the illustration. Refer to “Tire inflation pres-
sures” on page 7-27.
To store the flat tire or spare tire, jack, bar and
wheel nut wrench
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Store the flat tire in the luggage compartment. Reverse the
removing procedure when storing the spare tire, jack, bar and
wheel nut wrench.
Refer to “Spare tire information: To install” on page 6-14 and
“Jack and tools” on page 6-7.
CAUTION
!Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause
an accident. If you have no choice but to drive with
an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and
avoid sudden steering or braking, if possible. Inflate
the tire to the correct pressure as soon as possible.
Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-27.After changing the tire and driving the vehicle about
620 miles (1,000 km), retighten the wheel nuts to
make sure that they have not come loose.If the steering wheel vibrates when driving after
changing the tire, have the tire checked for balance
at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a
repair facility of your choice.Do not mix one type of tire with another or use a dif-
ferent size from the one listed. This would cause
early wear and poor handling.
BK0138000US.book 22 ページ 2011年4月13日 水曜日 午前11時17分
7-24 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Tires
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It is important to familiarize yourself with the following terms:
Cold tire pressure:
• The measured pressure after the vehicle has been parked
for at least three hours,
or
• The measured pressure when the vehicle is driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km) after having been parked for three
hours.
Maximum pressure: the maximum permissible cold tire
inflation pressure for this tire.
Recommended inflation pressure: the inflation pressure
for optimum tire performance.Intended outboard sidewall:
• The sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears white let-
tering or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or model name
molding that is higher or deeper than the same molding
on the other sidewall of the tire, or
• The outward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that
has a particular side that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Passenger car tire: a tire intended for use on passenger
cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that
have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000
pounds or less.
Light truck (LT) tire: a tire designated by its manufacturer
as primarily intended for use on lightweight trucks or mul-
tipurpose passenger vehicles.
Tread: portion of a tire that comes into contact with the
road.
Tread rib: a tread section running circumferentially
around a tire.
Tread separation: pulling away of the tread from the tire
carcass.
Carcass: the tire structure, except tread and sidewall rub-
ber which, when inflated, bears the load.
Sidewall: portion of a tire between the tread and bead.
Section width: the linear distance between the exteriors of
the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations due
to labeling, decoration, or protective bands.
Bead: the part of the tire that is made of steel wires,
wrapped or reinforced by ply cords and that is shaped to
fit the rim.
Ply: a layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.
Cord: the strands forming the plies in the tire.
WA R N I N G
!Driving with tires that are worn, damaged or
improperly inflated is dangerous.
These type tire conditions will adversely affect vehi-
cle performance.
These type tire conditions can also cause a tread sep-
aration or blowout which may result in an accident
causing serious injury or death.Tires, including spare tire, degrade over time with
age even when they are not being used.
It is recommended that tires over 6 years generally
be replaced even if damage is not obvious.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-25
7
Rim: a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are seated.
Rim diameter: nominal diameter of the bead seat.
Groove: the space between two adjacent tread ribs.Tire Markings
Size DesignationEXAMPLE: P215/65R15
NOTEEuropean/Japanese metric tire sizing is based on Euro-
pean/Japanese design standards. Tires designed to these
standards have the tire size molded into the sidewall
beginning with the section width. The letter “P” is
absent from this tire size designation. Example:
215/65R15 96H.
LT (Light Truck) -metric tire sizing is based on U.S.A.
design standards. The size designation for LT-metric
tires is the same as for P-metric tires except for the let-
ters “LT” that are molded into the sidewall preceding
the size designation. Example: LT235/85R16.
Temporary spare tires are high pressure compact spares
designed for temporary emergency use only. Tires
designed to this standard have the letter “T” molded
into the sidewall preceding the size designation. Exam-
ple: T145/80D18 103M.PPassenger car tire size based on U.S.A. design
standards
215 Section width in millimeters (mm)
65Aspect ratio in percent (%)
Ratio of section height to section width of tire.
RConstruction code
• “R” means radial construction.
• “D” means diagonal or bias construction.
15 Rim diameter in inches (in)
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